Football: Cicero-North Syracuse in discussions about new football coach; no hire announced

The process for hiring a new head football coach for Cicero-North Syracuse High School appears to be drawing to a conclusion.

North Syracuse Central School District superintendent Kim Dyce Faucette said Tuesday that discussions between herself and the board of education are taking place to hire a new varsity football coach but that no decision on a replacement for Steve Ellis has been made.

The board of education met Monday night. There is nothing on the meeting agenda posted on the school district web site indicating the board met in executive session. However, district officials Tuesday afternoon acknowleged that the board did go into executive session.

"We're in the process of having dialogue to determine who will be selected," Dyce Faucette said on Tuesday. "No decision has been made. As soon as we identify a candidate, we will put forth a recommendation and the world will know."

Sources said three coaches were brought in for final interviews and a recommendation was made to the board of education by Dyce Faucette and school athletics director Tim Bednarski.

Asked if she made a recommendation to the board, Dyce Faucette said, "as I indicated, we haven't identified a candidate." She offered the same response when asked if she had interviewed three finalists. Asked if the board met in executive session Monday night to discuss the hire, she said, "as I indicated, a decision has not been made. As soon as the board identifies a candidate, we will proceed accordingly to approve it."

The high school put out an announcement to meet the new coach on April 30. Dyce Faucette said that was a mistake and that the date was incorrect.

School board personnel said Monday that the appointment of a new head football coach was not on the board of education agenda for Monday night's meeting. The next meeting of the board of education is May 6.

The school is looking for a replacement for Ellis, who resigned in early March. Ellis posted a coaching record of 36-50 in his 10 seasons at C-NS. The Northstars were 2-6 and 1-7 in the last two seasons. Ellis did not coach last season because of a medical issued caused by an accident in gym class.

Ellis was under fire from a segment of the community that sought his ouster. Members of the football team organized a boycott following the 2011 season if Ellis was allowed to return as school coach. The coaching staff also disintegrated. A number of assistants either quit or were not retained by Ellis.

Staff writer Donnie Webb can be reached at 470-2149 or dwebb@syracuse.com.